Sara has presented this research at national conferences (The Fall Voice Conference Seattle, 2018 and The Fall Voice Conference Dallas, 2019) and recently finished up another study on the use of vocal exercises for group fitness instructors and whether or not a structured protocol involving daily practice of semi-occluded vocal tract exercises affects the instructor’s self-perceived vocal effort, vocal fatigue, and/or voice handicap. The mission was to investigate the best "FitPro Voice Protocol" and the conclusions are amazing. She presented this research at The Fall Voice Conference San Francisco (2022), and another article is currently in development, with hope to be published again soon.
Sara is also currently writing a book entitled Vocal Fitness: Voices Fit to Inspire, targeted to positively impact & empower individuals who are occupational voice users.
She also hopes to research and develop/validate an assessment tool (the Instructor Voice Index--IVI) for quantifying the psychosocial consequences of voice disorders on fitness instructors.
In addition, Sara created the #prioritizeyourvoice Global Voice Challenge, a worldwide virtual vocal encouragement movement that has inspired others to create a new habit of prioritizing the voice daily. This continues every Friday with Prioritize Your Voice Fridays (#pyv #prioritizeyourvoice) with a mission of creating an online vocal wellness movement to inspire others.
Sara has over 13 years of clinical/medical experience specializing in voice disorders, as well as normal voice use/production and public speaking techniques, with extensive training in the performance and assessment of videostroboscopy, acoustic analysis of voice, myofascial release/manual therapy and other laryngeal massage/manipulation treatment techniques, as well as facial cupping. She is also trained in the Estill Voice Training method (Levels One and Two), PhoRTE and LSVT certified, and experienced in treating those with upper airway disorders/dysfunction (inducible laryngeal obstruction/ILO, exercise induced laryngeal obstruction/EILO, irritable larynx syndrome/ILS, laryngeal hypersensitivity, chronic refractory cough, and dysfunctional breathing, etc.). She is trained in the Buteyko breathing method (Level One). Sara also has extensive experience treating dysphagia and the general management of swallowing disorders as well as the management of care for individuals with head/neck cancer (including fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing/FEES, modified barium swallow studies/MBSS/VFSS, and she is trained/certified in the MBS IMP, MDTP, and Pharyngocise).
Sara also has over fifteen years of experience within the sports, media, and fitness industries and has expertise in public speaking and motivating/inspiring others. She has created and executed presentations to a variety of audiences including speech pathology graduate students at several universities, performing arts students, teachers, news anchors, singers, doctors, fitness instructors, fitness studios, leadership teams, nurses, and speech pathology colleagues. She has also been featured in Reader's Digest, Elite Daily, Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups Journal, and on several podcasts (check out this website for links to the podcast recordings).
Sara's goals are to increase education and awareness related to healthy care of the vocal mechanism, promote efficient and confident voice use, and to improve the clarity and effectiveness of message delivery for those who are occupational voice users through providing high quality education, training, and treatment services in addition to vocal seminars and one-on-one instruction aimed to prevent dysphonia (problems with voice) and revitalize the dynamics of vocal performance in a class and/or presentation setting.
Sara upholds the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in addition to a speech pathology license in the state of Arizona.
Sara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology/Audiology from Miami University (Ohio) in 2007 and her Master of Arts degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati in 2009.
She also consistently achieves the ASHA Award for Continuing Education (ACE), which is a formal recognition of professionals who have demonstrated their commitment to lifelong learning by earning 7.0 ASHA continuing education units (equivalent to 70 contact hours) within a 36-month period.
Communication is KEY... And the foundation of all relationships. Verbal and nonverbal--it forms our relationships, maintains our relationships, and grows our relationships... We are put on this earth to be in the communion of others, to help others, to empathize with others, to learn and grow with others...as we strive as one body of people to come together and become greater.
Without communication, this mission halts to a standstill.
Consider how much you communicate on a daily basis...With other people, with your pets, with your coworkers, with your friends, with your family...Consider the impact of nonverbal and verbal communication...and consider the impact of your tone and facial expressions as you communicate.
What message does your communication send to others?
Communication is so powerful and has endless possibilities for us individually and as a whole...
I am eternally grateful that my career allows me to help others communicate through the power of VOICE!
VOICE is a full-body experience. Our body, mind, and spirit all work together and intertwine beautifully to develop, strengthen, rebalance, support, illuminate, and create the best and most authentic voice possible for each of us.
If we fail to recognize & embrace the connection between these foundational components of VOICE, we will be doing ourselves a disservice as we journey towards finding our best vocal selves... although it's important to remember it is always a process and never a destination...and we must trust the process and involve mind, body, and spirit in all aspects of learning to fully create all that we are capable of becoming--vocally, professionally, & personally.
It's not the ability to verbalize what you were "educated on", but instead the mastery of embodying what you "learned" and carrying that onward towards evolution & growth. Do not fear the power of opening you HEART to new and continued learning. Embrace the priceless beauty of education by involving not only your mind, but also your body and spirit...
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